202 LABRADOR 



over rough and swampy ground; but every man, down 

 to the least, prefers to take his two pieces at once rather 

 than make two trips. The downward trip from Mistassini 

 in a light canoe takes about ten days. 



The unit of value here, as formerly in most of the north, 

 is the "Made Beaver." In 1898 a fair-sized actual skin 

 was worth 2 MB. Prices were virtually a nominal matter; 

 the people simply took down their furs and brought back 

 their necessaries, with a share for the post. If for any rea- 

 son a man did not have much fur to turn in, he was still 

 taken care of, being at least furnished ammunition and 

 other means of getting fur and food. 



The Mistassini people hunt chiefly to the north on the 

 east main head water, the "Nichicun side" of the country. 

 Far from outside help, this region has a history of starva- 

 tion. For a long term of years, the deaths from starvation 

 were more than from all other causes combined. For a 

 time the district was abandoned. The fur game increased 

 remarkably, tempting the people back, and about the year 

 1906 new cases of starvation occurred. There is not much 

 large game, and in the periodic seventh year, when rabbits 

 fail, and perhaps the uncertain ptarmigan or " white par- 

 tridge" does not come, the worst may follow. 



All the families of the southern slope now take in enough 

 supplies to escape actual starvation. About the year 1904 

 the large Etienne family, of Ste. Anne, transported about 

 one-third the total amount they would naturally consume ; 

 and this may be taken as a fair example of the best half- 

 breed practice. So large an amount can be moved only by 

 stages. The canoe carries a load to the end of the stage 

 of a few miles, and then drops back for another cargo. 



